Arizona Scholarships, Grants and Student Loans

Arizona Financial Aid

People go to Arizona for more reasons than just the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley; many people also go there to complete their postsecondary education. Residents attending one of the many Arizona colleges and universities has to offer may struggle to afford the rising costs of tuition. Luckily, there are several forms of financial aid offered by the state and organizations within the state that students should have no problem finding enough money to pay for their college education. Arizona financial aid is offered in a variety of forms such as scholarships, grants and student loan programs.

Arizona Scholarships and Grants

Arizona grants and scholarships help thousands of local students every year find money for college. Use the Campus Explorer Scholarship Search to find scholarships in Arizona.

State administered scholarships and grants are also excellent resources for Arizona residents. The Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education (ACPE) is the state agency that helps students prepare for their college education. The commission administers financial aid to Arizona students. Here is a list of scholarships and grants offered by ACPE:

1. Leveraging Education Assistance Program (LEAP): A unique grant offered as a joint-effort between Arizona state government and the federal government. The requirements specify that the student must demonstrate financial need and be eligible for a Pell Grant. A maximum amount of $2500 is awarded to qualifying students.
2. Postsecondary Education Grant: Specifically geared towards students enrolled in a participating private postsecondary institution. The grant awards $2000 annually for a maximum of four calendar years.
3. Early Graduation Scholarship Program: An incentive for Arizona students to graduate early that provides eligible students with a scholarship upon graduation. The maximum grant amount is $2,000 for a total of two years.
4. Arizona College Access Aid Program: Caters to students in their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year of their undergraduate education. In order to be eligible to receive up to $2,000 of assistance, the applicant must qualify for the Pell Grant.
5. Arizona Private Postsecondary Education Student Assistance (PFAP): Restricted to students who are who earned an associate degree from an Arizona community college and is now pursuing a bachelors degree from an Arizona private college or university. The scholarship is provided based on the student’s financial need and awards up to $2,000 annually.
6. National Merit Semifinalist Award: The Arizona Semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship competition are offered $8,000 per academic year, for the fall and spring of the next four consecutive years.

Scholarships from Arizona Colleges and Universities

Most Arizona colleges and universities, recognizing the high cost of college tuition, offer scholarships to enrolled students. Exclusive scholarships are offered at the following colleges:

• Arizona State University
• Cochise College

Additionally, the University of Arizona offers the Regents High Honors Endorsement Award (AIMS) a merit-based scholarship provided to high school students who exhibit academic excellence.

Students planning to attend a college or university in Arizona may obtain more funding if they enroll in a school located in a city with a great amount of colleges. For example, the top five cities in Arizona with the most colleges are Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Tempe and Glendale might have more scholarship and other financial aid opportunities.

Other Scholarships for Arizona

Some private, public and non-profit organizations in Arizona establish foundations that grant scholarships to students meeting their criteria. These scholarships may be based on merit, financial need or achievements.

1. Women Who Made A Difference Scholarship: Although not solely restricted to Arizona residents, this scholarship gives preference to members of the Arizona Business and Professional Women’s Foundation (ABPW). Also, the award may only be applied to women 20 years of age or older, who are attending an Arizona community college to increase their job opportunities.
2. Arizona Community Foundation: A database of over 100 private scholarships offered to Arizona residents.
3. SunStudent College Scholarship Program: The Phoenix Suns basketball team has ten scholarships in the amount of $1,000 that are offered to Arizona high school students that have at least a 2.5 GPA and are a regular volunteer for community organizations.
4. CPA Foundation for Education and Innovation Arizona CPA Foundation for Education and Innovation: Awards 12 scholarships to Arizona residents who wish to pursue a career in accounting in Arizona. This is both a need-based and merit-based award, as recipients must achieve a certain GPA and demonstrate leadership abilities.
5. Arizona Nursery Association Foundation: Scholarships are awarded to students who plan to enroll in a horticulture related degree program at any college, university or community college. The award amount is between $500 and $3,000.

Arizona Student Loans

Arizona student loans are offered by the Student Loan Network, a website that helps students find the best student loan package for them. They also have a feature where the student can look up which student loans are accepted at the school they are enrolled in.